Pole incising mechanism



June 4, 1963 c. E. ELLERMAN ETAL 3,092,158

POLE INCISING MECHANISM Filed April 1, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I M/A 5Ziii kfiin 252552 cf MONA/MN r m 3 o m W. I 4 d m n M II 0 I Wm AWATTOE/VEVJ' June 4, 1963 c. E. ELLERMAN ETAL POLE INCISING MECHANISMFiled April 1, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 J INVENTORS. 65442156 6 ElLPMA/Vmeme 6! MONA/IAN wwmwzw June 1963 c. E. ELLERMAN ETAL 3,09

POLE-INCISING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 1, 1959 14670:? C.MON/4644 June 4, 1963 c. E. ELLERMAN ETAL 3,092,153

POLE INCISING MECHANISM Filed April 1, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY Mm A W Afrom/5V5 June 4, 1963 c. E. ELLERMAN ETAL 3,09

POLE INCISING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 1, 1959 MN 5 mmw 5mum H W N 6. e a M m [z r a A MW June 4, 1963 c. E. ELLERMAN ETAL3,092,158

POLE INCISING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed April 1, 1959 wmw NEINVENTOR-S'. 644E165 6 1 [AMA/v BY 10070,? a MONA/IAN A fTOE/Vlfi' mmwQM X.

Rv LO W 1 hi Q 3 3 a a w 3 Q MQ June 4, 1963 c. E. ELLERMAN ETAL3,092,158

POLE INCISING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed April 1, 1959 INVENTORS.644E655 1-. [(ZAQMAA/ BY V/c'roe a MoA/A/MA/ United States Patent3,092,158 POLE INCISING MECHANISM Charles E. Ellerman, Olympia, andVictor C. Monahan, Tacoma, Wasln, assignors to Cascade Pole Company,Tacoma, Wash, a corporation of Washington Filed Apr. 1, 1959, Ser. No.803,488 16 Claims. (Cl. 144-2) This invention relates to wood productpuncturing mechanisms, commonly known as incisors, and more particularlyrelates to puncturing mechanisms especially adapted to high speedincising of the peripheral surface of a wood product varying in diameterfrom end to end, such as poles, pilings and the like.

Wood product preservation to minimize susceptability of the wood productto attack by wood destroying organisms, decay, and/or damage by firecommercially involves incising all or part of the peripheral surface ofthe wood product, followed by placing the wood products in .treatingsolution in a large open tank or pressurized retort. Known treatingagents comprise preservatives, such as creosote, creosote solutions,oil-borne, cuprous or cyanate preservatives, or other saltpreservatives, and/ or fire retardant solutions.

Because of its porous structure, a wood product might be expected to beeasy to treat by impregnant liquids but in commercial practice is foundto often offer surprising resistance to penetration by liquids,depending upon the species of wood, the water content, whether a surfacecondition such as known in the trade as case hardening is encountered orwhether the surface has been debarked. Deep penetration, and moreparticularly a substantially uniform degree of penetration at leastthrough the so-called sap ring or soft outer layer of the wood, as foundin Douglas Fir for example, is a proven necessity for good preservation.Often, also, a specified depth of impregnation requires penetration ofthe liquid into the inner heart wood of the wood product as well, and itbecomes imperative that effective incising to substantially uniformdepth and substantially uniform spacing of the wood product surface beaccomplished prior to the impregnation treatment. Otherwise the harderwinter wood rings will tend to block and prevent lateral flow of theliquid too near the Wood surface. Also, deep and uniform incisingpermits the water to be exhausted from the wood much more effectively.

Modern impregnation processes basically involve either an open tanktreatment or a retorting treatment, with the liquid being urged into thewood by extended soaking, by the so-called hot and cold method, or byuse of pressurization in a retort to force the preservative materialinto the wood.

Some species are very resistant to impregnation, notably Douglas Fir,even when subjected to the best of modern impregnation processes.

The present invention has as a primary object and advantage theprovision of practical incising means and incising methods insuringdeep, uniform incisions and consequent deep, uniform penetration of thepreservative liquid in all woods at reduced cost and with improvedproduct quality. Savings of from to 25% in impregnation time, ascompared with the time normally necessary during the open tank or retortphase of the treatment, have been realized, without any adverse effecton the structural strength of the product.

Detailed specifications as to incision requirements and recommendedpreservative content and procedures are promulgated by the American WoodPreservers Association, and conformance therewith on a high-speedproduction basis is also a primary object of the present invention. Byway of example in this regard, such Associa- Patented June 4, 1963 M CCtion requirements in the case of preservation by a creosote or oil-bornepreservative call for a minimum net retention of preservative of from4-16 lbs. of preservative per cubic foot of wood volume, depending uponthe service to which the woo-d product is to be put. Practice hasdemonstrated that production standards of at least 16 lbs. of creosotesolution per cubic foot of wood, with incision penetration of about Vsinch, and substantially uniformly spaced incisions (with an incision foreach about 2 to 3 square inches of pole surface on the average) arereadily maintained by the mechanism and method of the subject invention.

Prior incising mechanism-s almost universally and characteristicallyinvolve intermittent or progressive rotation of the pole during theincising operation, coupled with either vertically reciprocating punchbars such as shown in Rawson U.S. Patent No. 1,440,893, Lynch et a1.1,468,484, Valentine 1,621,963 and Monson et a1. 1,894,049, orhorizontally reciprocating incisor means such as in Nelson U.S. PatentsNos. 1,622,538 and 1,675,042, and Charland 2,351,401, or progressiverotation and advancement to give a spiral incision pattern with orwithout conjunctive peeling such as in Tinling U.S. Patent No.2,563,758, Graham et a1. 2,684,089, and Pence 2,781,802. Incisors forsawn lumber, involving power driven incisor rollers, are also known, asshown by Edwards et al. U.S. Patent No. 1,646,955.

No previously available incisor mechanism offers a practical solution tothe problem of generating an ade quate number of substantially uniformlyspaced incisions in the surface of a wood product varying substantiallyin diameter from end to end because any incising mechanism whichrequires rotation of the wood product about its longitudinal axis has aninherently rather slow throughput rate, and because any incisingmechanism of fixed lateral contour or dimension is not adaptable to woodproducts of varying diameter.

Characteristic objects and advantages of the present invention includepresentation of wood product incising mechanisms wherein wood productsvarying in diameter from end to end and from product to product can beincised along their entire peripheral surfaces during a single passthrough the mechanisms without axial rotation; wherein the incisingelements are mounted on a base member surrounding the wood product andcharacterized by a floating action with respect to the line of travel ofthe wood product, eliminating any necessity for substantial lateralmovement of the wood product during the course of the incisingoperation; wherein such floating base member mounts a series ofcircumferentially arranged and independently radially movable incisormeans, such as wheels, each lying in a plane substantially including theaxial line of travel of the wood product; wherein each such incisingmeans is mounted for free rotation and yieldable radial movement toclosely follow any random or progressive surface variation orirregularity presented by the wood product surface portion facing suchincising means; wherein various automatic and semi-automatic means areprovided for facilitating the centering of the floating base member withrespect to the disposition of the wood product passing therethrough,including utilization of roller type follower means, feeler elementresponsive hydraulic or pneumatic control means, or the like, orcombinations thereof; wherein accommodation for wide variance in thediameter of the wood product is provided for by provision of a pluralityof incising stages, each with a floating incisor carrying base memberand with the incisor means on the base members arranged in arespectively staggered or offset pattern, considered circumferentiallyand laterally of the wood product, with the base members disposedsubstantially coaxially along the path of travel of the'wood product,i.e. in cascade;

wherein such mechanism involving a plurality of incising stages has eachstage selectively operable, either manually or automatically, to presentonly one or both stages in incising contact with the wood product,depending upon or responsive to the diameter of the wood product beingincised; wherein the series of incisor means disposed circumferentiallyabout the wood product all act simultaneously and with substantiallyuniform pressure laterally around said wood product, with variation indiametric separation between the various incising means beingestablished by the actual diametric dimension of the wood productbetween opposed incisor means at any given instant of operation, eachincisor means being in floating, pressure contact with the surface areaof the wood product facing same, with the degree of pressure exerted byeach incising means substantially equaling the pressure eXerted by eachof the other incising means regardless of the diameter of the woodproduct; wherein such floating incising means are selectively actuatedor deactuated in concert from a common hydraulic or pneumatic powersource; wherein each such incising means is either pivotally orreciprocably mounted on a common base member; wherein the variouselements making up the incising mechanism are simple of fabrication andeconomical to operate and maintain, in large part involving multiple,interchangeable elements; wherein the incisor means and common basemember mounting same at each incising stage or section of the mechanismautomatically adapt to varying pole diameters and varying twists oreccentricities in the pole longitudinal dimension without interruptionor impediment of the incising action; wherein the floating nature of thebase member mounting carrying the incising means enables the mechanismto adapt itself substantially to the pole in its position in the polefeeding means associated with the equipment, eliminating any necessityfor elaborate positioning devices in connection with the conventionalconveyor system for such wood products; and wherein the motive force formovement of the wood product through the equipment during the incisingoperation is derived from the associated feeding means.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art from a consideration of various typical andtherefore non-limitive embodiments thereof, as presented by thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, wherein like numeralsrefer to like parts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric, somewhat fragmentary view of one form ofequipment embodying the invention, taken from an upper aspect andviewing the infeed end of the mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a view in rear elevation, somewhat diagrammatic andfragmentary in character, taken from the out feed end of the mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical cross section, taken substantially alongthe vertical center plane of the equipment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in front elevation of thefloating base member and incisor means of the equipment, showingconstructionally and schematically the nature of the feeler barresponsive, pneumatic centering system for automatically self-centeringsaid base member with respect to the wood product;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, isometric view of a segment of thecentering linkage forming a part of the centering system shown in FIG.4;

, FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed view in front elevation of a typicalincisor wheel arm and associated assembly;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view of one incisor wheel in incisingcontact with the wood product surface;

FIG. 8 is a view in side elevation on a reduced scale of an incisingmechanism involving two incising sections arranged in series along thecourse of travel of the wood product, the left hand or first sectionbeing shown with the incising means thereof in wood product engagingposition and the second or right hand section thereof being shown withthe incising means in a retracted position;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view indicating the relatively staggered oroffset disposition of the respective incising means of the incisingsections of the mechanism shown in FIG. 8.

IG. 10 is a schematic presentation of a typical control circuit forautomatically actuating or deactuating the right hand or second sectionof the incising mechanism shown in FIG. 8, responsive to the diametricdimension of the wood product presented at the first section of themechanism;

FIG. 11 is a modified form of automatic control mechanism for centeringthe incising mechanism and floating base member of a given incisingsection, involving hydraulic rather than pneumatic control andactuation;

FIG. 12 is an isometric, fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, but showinga modified form of centering means involving a plurality of reciprocableroller means;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, isometric view from a rear aspect of a portionof a modified form of base member attached incising wheel mountingmeans, wherein the incising wheels reciprocate radially with respect tothe base member and are each anchored thereto by an associated guidewayand slide block;

FIG. 14 is a detailed side view of one of the incisor means andassociated guiding and actuating equipment, as shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. -15 is an isometric view similar to FIGS. 1 and 12, showing yetanother form of pole infeed and base member centering means, includingV-shaped centering rolls; and

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side view, partially in cross section, furthershowing the base member centering means illustrated in FIG. 15, andparticularly the inter connection means between the roll mounting slideplates thereof.

Turning now -to a more specific consideration of the form of theinvention illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, involving a single incising station,it will be understood that the heart of the mechanism is found in afloating base member 20, shown in the form of a plate, with therespective front and rear faces 22 and 24 thereof disposed transverselyof the direction of travel of a pole P passing therethrough, suchdirection of travel being indicated at 26. Base member 20 has acentrally disposed opening 28 of sufiicient diameter to readilyaccommodate the largest diameter of pole P to be encountered. In atypical installation, the diameter of opening 28 was selected attwenty-eight inches.

The stationary framing of the equipment is preferably of channel beamconstruction, including stationary horizontal members 30 and 32 (FIGS. 2and 3) providing a base, stationary vertical upright members 34 and 36respectively at the right and left sides of floating base member 20, asviewed from the front thereof, and stationary upper horizontal framingincluding transverse top beams 38 and longitudinally extending top beams40.

Vertically movable within the forward, vertically extending stationaryframe members 34 and 36 is a subframe formed by respective upper andlower horizontal members 42 and 44 and vertical side members 46 and 48respectively at the right and left sides of the subframe as viewed fromthe front. Vertical movement of the sub-frame with respect to thestationary frame, as indicated by arrows 50 (FIG. 2) is laterallyrestricted by means of vertically disposed rollers at the right and leftsides of the sub-frame, riding in the inside channel or trackwayprovided by respective frame uprights 34 and 36, such rollers as aremounted on sub-frame upright 46 and ride in the inside trackways 52 and54 inside of fixed upright 34 being shown in FIG. 2 at 56. It will bereadily understood that, as viewed from the front of the machine, theleft hand arrangement as between fixed uprights 36 and sub-frame upright48 involves an identical arrange ment of inside trackway and guiderollers.

For ease of manipulation during operation of the equipment, the weightof the sub-frame and the equipment components it carries, including basemember 20 and its associated elements, have the weight thereofpreferably substantially entirely counterbalanced by a vertically actingcounterweight system mounted on the stationary frame. Such counterweightmeans (noting also the plural arrangement thereof in FIG. 8) includeslaterally spaced connector straps 60 (FIG. 2) and 62 (-FIG. 3),respectively connected to the right and left upper corners of thesub-frame by trunnion straps 64 and 66 connected at the upper endsthereof to counterweight arms 68 (FIG. 2) and 70 (FIG. 3). Eachcounterweight arm has a generally centrally located fulcrum pointprovided by a trunnion strap, the trunnion strap associated withcounterweight arm 70 being indicated at 72 FIG. 3). Counterweight means74 extends transversely of the equipment, spanning and respectively hungfrom counterweight arms 68 and 70 by pivoted straps 76. Counterweightmeans 74 can be of any particular form of appropriate weight desired tocounterbalance the floating assembly of tht equipment. For example, anumber of sections of railroad track contained in a box and hung fromthe counterweight arms 68 and 70 has been found satisfactory.

Vertical movement of the sub-frame assembly, in the form of theinvention shown in FIGS. 1-7, is caused by a double-acting pneumaticcylinder 80 (FIG. 2), having the body thereof attached to the stationaryframe and having its connecting rod 82 attached as by trunnion straps 84to the lower member 44 of the sub-frame. Operation and control ofpneumatic cylinder 80 is discussed more fully hereinafter. Having notedthe constructional arrangement enabling vertical movability of thefloating base member 20, consideration will now be given to theconstruction thereof enabling its horizontal movement transversely ofthe direction of travel of the pole P. Floating base member 20 hasmounted on the rear surface 24 thereof a pair of vertical posts 90 and92 joined at their tops by a cross member 94 in turn mounting a pair ofrollers $6 riding in a trackway 97 provided along the under surface ofsub-frame top cross member 42. Similarly, the bottom edge of floatingbase member 20 mounts a horizontally and laterally extend-ing beam 98 inturn having a trackway 100 riding on rollers .102 journalled in subframebottom member 44. Horizontal movement of the sub-frame assembly isaccomplished by energization of double-acting pneumatic cylinder 104having the body thereof attached to the front surface 22 of base member20 (see FIG. 1), with the connecting rod 106 thereof attached tovertical post 46 of the sub-frame (see FIGS. 1 and 3). Control andenergization of pneumatic cylinder 104 is discussed more fullyhereinafter.

Considered generally, floating base member 20 has self-centering controlmechanism arranged on the front surface 22 thereof and mounts a seiiesof circularly disposed incising means and associated elements on itsrear surface 24. As will be apparent from a consideration of FIGS. l-3,for example, the frontwardly disposed self-centering control means andthe rearwardly disposed incising means are arranged substantiallyconcentrically about central opening 28 of said floating base member 20.

Considering in greater detail the nature of the particularself-centering control means shown in connection with the form of theinvention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, and particularly noting thepneumatic control system layout presented by FIG. 4 and the controlvalve and associated linkage detail presented by FIG. 5, it will be seenthat the self-centering control mechanism includes respective upper,lower, right side and left side feeler bars 110, 112, 114 and 116, eachsensing the relative position of the surface of pole P facingit, ande'ach'in eflfect providing a measure of the distance of such polesurface from the central axis of opening 28 in base member 20. The edgeof opening 28 is suitably notched, as indicated in one instance at 118,to accommodate movement of the feeler arm to relatively widespreadpositions, as will occur when the diameter of pole P is only slightlyless than the diameter of opening 28.

One important problem concerning the self-centering control means stemsfrom the fact that the diametric dimension of a given pole P will inpractically all instances vary considerably from one end of the pole tothe other. If the variation is progressive and symmetrical, then eventhough all of the feeler bars will progressively diverge or converge, asthe case may be, there is no necessity for change in position of thefloating base member 20 with respect to the longitudinal axis of thepole P. When variations in the diametric dimensions of the pole P arenonsymmetrical, however, the control system should compare the relativeposition of the opposed pairs of feeler bars to detect such condition ofnon-symmetry and compensate therefore by controlling movement of thefloating base member 20. Consistent with these considerations, theself-centering control means first shown interconnects opposed pairs offeeler bars and compensating control linkage to actuate the controlvalving regulating air delivery to vertically-acting cylinder andhorizontallyacting cylinder 104.

Except for the displacement therebetween, the specific linkage for thevertically acting pair of feeler bars 110 and 112 is identical with thelinkage and control mechanism actuated by the opposed pair ofhorizontally acting feeler bars 114 and 116. For this reason, thedetailed nature and manner of operation of only one opposed pair offeeler bars will be specifically described, horizontally acting feelerbars 114 and 116 being selected by way of example.

Each of the feeler bars 114 and 116 connects to a respective shaft 120and 122 in turn journalled in respective trunnion plates 124 and 126mounted on front surface 22 of floating base member 26. Shaft 126 haskeyed thereto at its lower end a crank arm 128 and shaft 122 is likewisekeyed at its lower end to a crank arm 139. The two shafts 120 and 122are interconnected by tensioned spring means 132 functioning to maintainfeeler bars 114 and 116 in a relatively converged position when there isno pole P presented in opening 23 of floating base member 20."Respective crank arms 128 and are in turn joined by respectiveconnecting rods 134 and 136 to a common equalizing bar 138 pivotallyjoined at its center to a compensating arm 140.

It is to be noted in connection with the linkage mechanism discussed inthe preceding paragraph that if a change in horizontal diametricdimension of the pole P occurs which is symmetrical with respect to itslongitudinal axis, then the relative movement of feeler arm 114 equalsthe relative movement of feeler .arm 116, in which event the equalizerbar 138 is moved rotatively an appropriate amount about its pivotalconnection 142 but no movement of compensating arm will result becausevthere has been no movement of said pivotal connection 142. In thismanner, symmetrical changes in dimension of pole P are equalized orwashed out and have no control effect on compensating arm 140. However,should a change in dimension of pole P between feeler bars 114 and 116occur which is non-symmetrical, then the differencein degree of movementas between the feeler bars will generate movement of the compensatingarm 140 slightly to the right or left .as viewed in FIG. 1, as the casemay be. Such movement of compensating arm 140 is utilized to regulatethe control valving in the following manner.

Particularly noting FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the compensating control valvingand linkage is mounted on an extension plate 144 at the bottom offloating base member 20 and includes a fixed pivot post 146 pivotallyanchoring one end of compensating arm 140 as well as two control valves148 and 150. Control valves 148 and 150 are of a type conventional perse which exhausts to the atmosphere and have control rods (not shown)contacted by respective adjustment screws 152 and 154 adjustablythreaded in the ends of U-shaped brackets 156 and 158, also pivotallymounted on pivot post 146, Which brackets 156 and 158 are interconnectedby tension spring 160 (see FIG. and are separated by a spacer-stop 162extending from compensating arm 140. Operation of the valve actuatingmechanism upon movement of compensating arm 140 involves movement ofbrackets 156 and 158, with responsive partial opening of one and partialclosing of the other of valves 148 and 150. Thus, should cornpensatingarm 140 move in the direction indicated at 164 in FiGS. 4 and 5,spacer-stop 162 moves in the same direction and relieves the position ofbracket 156, in turn permitting slight movement of said bracket 156about pivot post 146 and causing screw 152 to raise the actuating rod ofcontrol valve 143, whereupon air from the incoming supply line 166passes through check valve 163, line 170, said valve 148 and line 172into the left hand end of cylinder 104 as viewed in FIG. 4, the relativemovement of the control rod of valve 150 occasioned by the slightretraction of adjustment screw 154 arising from the correspondingrelative movement of bracket 158 in turn connecting line 174 from theright hand end of cylinder 104 to exhaust port 176 of control valve151), resulting in piston 178 of cylinder 104 moving relatively towardthe right hand end of said cylinder 104, whereupon floating base member20 is moved in the direction indicated at 180- until floating basemember opening 23 becomes equispaced about the horizontally facingsurfaces of pole P. Conversely, when compensating arm 140 movesoff-center in the direction indicated at 182, movement of brackets 156and 158 cause the supply line 166 to be placed in communication throughcheck valve 184 and valve 150' with line 174 and cause line 172 to beconnected with exhaust orifice 186 of valve 150, causing piston 178 tomove relatively to the left within cylinder 104, in turn causingmovement of floating base member 20 in the direction indicated at 188until compensating arm 140 again assumes a centered or balancedposition.

It will be readily understood that suitable means for conveying the poleP in line endwise, such as upper and lower power driven concave rolls(designated 26' in FIG- URE 3), are known per se and are used to deliverthe poles P into the opening 28. In this connection, however, it is tobe noted as an important feature of the present invention that,throughout a substantially infeed area, the particular lateral positionof a given pole with respect to opening 28 is not critical, in that theself-centering mechanism will sense whatever lateral pole position ispresented and coaxially center the floating base member 20 with respectto the actual dimension and axial line of movement of the pole P, thusobviating any necessity for bodily displacing the pole transversely oreven maintaining the pole in any particular position of exact end-to-endalignment with the other poles being run through the mechanism. However,as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, over-riding manualcontrol means can be optionally employed to pre-position the floatingbase member 20 and the self-centering control mechanism, if desired.

It is within the purview of the present invention and particularly aself-centering control means such as that discussed above, that such isoperable to center the incising means about the oncoming poles whethersuch are fed tip first or butt first, or in a random arrangement of endfeed sequence. It is considered generally preferable, however, to feedthe poles P through the mechanism in a tip first manner since the normalor at rest position of feeler bars 110-116 is with such bars at arelatively converging disposition and since tip first feeding of thepoles P results in a minimal displacement of the feeler mechanisminitially, with a progressive and gradual divergence of both the feelermechanism and the associated incising means during the course oftreatment.

With respect to the particular self-centering control mechanismpresented in connection with the first form of the inventionillustrated, it is to be also noted that in certain installations it canbe considered permissible to utilize only a horizontally disposed pairof feeler means, dispensing with the vertically disposed pair, shouldthe nature of the poles being processed be essentially staright. This isbecause the bed level of the associated pole feed means serves toestablish reasonably well the level of feed through the mechanism sothat the vertical position of the floating base member 20 can be set ormanually monitored to enable all pole diameters presented to passthrough opening 28, vertically considered, leaving the only automaticcompensation necessary being that for maintaining the horizontaldisposition of floating member 20 substantially centered laterally aboutthe pole.

Specific consideration will now be given to the detailed nature of theparticular form of incising means used in the embodiment of theinvention illustrated in FIGS. l-7. Considering the over-all arrangementthereof, and particularly noting the views presented by FIGS. 2 and 3,the incisor means involves a circularly arranged series of freelyrotatable incising wheels 200, each journalled in the free end of awheel arm 202, in turn pivotally movable about a pivot post 204 mountedon trunnion block 206 attached to the rear surface 24 of floating basemember 20 (see FIG. 6, for example). For clarity of illustration, only afew of the circularly disposed series of incising wheels are shown inthe views of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the upper, lowerand side wheels in constructional detail and FIG. 2 showing the relativeangular disposition of the other wheel assemblies by broken lineindicating the various planes of movement of the various wheels thereof.The illustration of FIG. 3, being crosssectional in nature, serves toshow the relative position of several such incising wheels 200 when inpole engaging position, and also somewhat diagrammatically indicates bybroken lines designated 200' the relative position of the upper andlower incising wheel assemblies when retracted.

Each wheel arm 202 has connected generally centrally thereof theconnecting rod 208 of a double-acting pneumatic cylinder 210, the bodyof which is pivotally anchored to a bracket 212 standing out from therear surface 24 of floating base member 20, such pivotal connectionbeing indicated at 214 (FIG. 3). A circular bracing ring 216interconnects the ends of brackets 212, which brackets 212 also haveattached thereto two manifold rings 218 and 220 to which the variousrespective engaging air delivery lines 222 (each to the anchored end ofa cylinder 210) and retracting air delivery lines 224 (each to the rodend of a cylinder 210) are connected in parallel, providing thatengagement or retraction of all of the incising wheels 200 occurssimultaneously and responsively from actuation of a single controlmeans. Thus, particularly noting FIG. 2, a four-way valve 226,conventional per se and having the control rod 228 thereof manuallycontrolled by suitable linkage 230, also conventional per se, functionsto deliver incoming air from supply line 232 through line 234 tomanifold ring 220 and to simultaneously communicate manifold ring 218through line 236 with exhaust port 238 of valve 226 (exhausting toatmosphere) when establishing the incising wheels 200 in a retractedposition, the direction of flow of the control air being indicated insuch event by arrows 240. As will be readily understood by those skilledin the art, opening of control means 230 reverses the flow of airthrough valve 226, lines 234 and 236, manifold rings 218 and 220, andlines 222 and 224, causing each rod 208 to extend in its cylinder 210.

Also to be observed with respect to the particular wheel assembly designpresented by FIGS. 2 and 3, a pressure ratio reduction of 2:1 isaccomplished by placement of the connection of connecting rods 208generally centrally of wheel arms 202. This design detail is of coursesubject to wide variation in practice. To illustrate a practical form ofarrangement in this embodiment of the invention, however, an existinginstallation utilizes a set of twenty doubleacting pistons 210, eachhaving an efiective piston area of four square inches, together with anair supply of 100 p.s.i., resulting in an engagement pressure ofincising wheels 200 against the surface areas of pole P of about 200pounds.

With respect to the detail of the incising wheels, particular referenceis invited to FIGS. 6 and 7. As will be noted, each wheel 2% mounts amultiplicity of substantially alined incisingv blades or teeth 250',each such incising blade having the cutting edge 252 thereof lying inthe plane of rotation so as to penetrate the surface of pole P withoutsubstantial cutting of the wood fibers. Said blades 25s are shaped to beanchored into recesses in spacer plate 254 and rigidly held in properposition by side plates 255 and 258 (FIG. 6), fastened together bybolts, certain of which are indicated at 260.

As will be readily understood, the particular number of incising wheels2W and the particular wheel diameter and number of incising teeth andspacing between incising teeth on each wheel can be subjected to widevariation in particular installations, the primary consideration in thisrespect including and being determined by the maximum and minimum polediameters to be incised by a particular set of incising wheels, thetolerable variation in number of incisions per given area of polesurface, and the dimensional limitations placed on the wheels by theassociated structure and degree of manipulation of the wheels which isdesired. Also of considerable importance is the particular species andtype of wood product since the ease with which a preservative willpenetrate a given species of lumber affects the number of incisionsnecessary in a given surface area to meet prescribed preservativestandards.

To illustrate a typical installation in these respects, specificallydesigned for incising Douglas fir poles, the equipment has a floatingbase member opening 28 which is twenty-eight inches in diameter, tohandle a maximum pole dimension of about twenty-six inches, has incisorwheels which are ten and one-half inches in diameter and twenty innumber, the layout and design of the incising wheel assembliesaccommodating a minimum pole diameter of about six inches, with thedepth of incision by each incising blade 250 being seven-eighths inch,the spacing between blades 250 circumferentially about each incisingwheel being about two and one-half inches, and the spacing betweenlongitudinal rows of incisions on the surface of pole P varying from aminimum spacing of about one inch when the pole diameter was about sixinches to a maximum spacing of about four inches when the pole diameterwas about twenty-six inches and a single incising section is used, themaximum spacing being about two inches when two incising sections areused, as will be more fully discussed hereinafter in connection withFIG. 3.

Particularly as a result of the incised poles of a species of timbertending to be somewhat irregular as to surface and graining, there isoccasionally a tendency for the various incising wheels 2% toprogressively weave or wander from a true, straight line, equi-spacedbetween adjacent lines. While there are advantages in pivotal mountingsof the incisor wheel arms, as has been done in the form of the inventionillustrated in FIGS, 1-3, for example, this tendency to weave or Wanderfro-1n the intended radial plane of contact of a given wheel with thefacing surface of a pole is generated because of the pivotal nature ofthe wheel mounting. To minimize this tendency to weave, and asparticularly notable in FIGS. 3 and 6, the form of the invention therepresented incorporates what may be termed a fixed or anchoring ring 27%,supported at the ends of fixed brackets 272 standing out from the rearsurface 24 of floating base member 20. Various incisor wheel arms 202,and particularlythe arms 262 carrying the incising wheels 29s having apredominantly horizontal component of movement, have spring means 274under tension between anchoring ring 270 and/or brackets 2 72, and astiiiening bar 276 (see FIG. 6) on the pivot post mounting of the Wheelarm 202, functioning to limit and yiel-d'ably restrain the tendency ofthe wheel arm to sag. As will be readily understood, the tendency of theside disposed wheel arm assemblies to deviate, will be predominately asagging action, downwardly, so that the spring means 274 and stifieningbar 276 in each instance Will be placed to eliminate or at least reducesuch tendency of the wheel arms to sag, thereby maintaining the overallincising pattern within tolerable limits. Another form of the invention,as illustrated at FIGS. 13 and 14 and discussed in detail below,involves sliding support means for the incising wheel assemblies,obviating this problem in another manner.

As has been previously indicated, the form of the invention firstillustrated and discussed in detail involves a single incising stage orsection, incorporating a single floating base member 20, forwardlydirected self-centering means, and rearwardly directed, radially actingincising means, through which the pole P passes in the incisingtreatment characteristic of the present invention. As also previouslydiscussed, one of the important features of the invention is theself-adaptability of the mechanism to treatment of wood product forms,such as poles, wherein the diametric dimension of the wood productvaries substantially from end to end.

A more refined embodiment of the invention involves utilization of aseries of pole incising stages or sections in sequence, i.e. in cascade,with the pole passing successively therethrough. For purpose ofillustration, FIG. 8 presents in a somewhat simplified form and inreduced scale a typical application of this facet of the invention.Accompanying FIG. 9 diagrammatically shows an appropriate relativepositioning of the various incising wheels of the two incising stages.

FIG. 8 shows but two incising stages in sequence, it being readilyunderstood that further additional stages can be employed as desired.Each of the incising stages, indicated generally at 280 and 282 ispreferably identical with the other, each having a respective floatingbase member 284 and 286 identical with floating base member 20 shown inFIG. 1, each having self-centering means 28% and 29h, comparable to theself-centering means lid-4S8 earlier considered, and each having anincising assembly 25 2 and 2554, comparable to earlier considered means20t)-2'76, the incising wheels 296 of incising assembly 292 being shownin engagement with pole P, and the incising wheels 2598 of incisingassembly 294 being shown in a retracted position. As shown at FIG. 9,the relative position of the various incising wheels 2% of the firstincising assembly 292 are alternately equi-space=d (as diagrammaticallyshown by solid arrow), with respect to various incising wheels 2% ofincising assembly 294 (as diagrammatically shown by broken arrows).

in operation, an equipment involving plural incising stages, such asthat presented by FIGS. 8 and 9, will utilize only a single stage,usually the first encountered by the pole P, for pole diameters up to agiven size, say twelve inches, for example, and then use the subsequentstage or stages for pole segments having larger diameters, say in excessof twelve inches, for example. In essence, it is a characteristic of aform of the invention involving plural incising stages that thevariation in spacing between incisions made by one incising wheel andincisions made by the adjacently acting incising wheel is substantiallyreduced. Thus, again considering the case where two incising stages 292and 294 are employed, for example, and assuming a pole diameter varyingfrom tip to butt from about six inches to about twenty-two inches, onlyincising stage 292 will be used first, assuming the pole P is fed tipfirst which is preferable in forms of the equipment involving compoundincising stages, the single incising treatment continuing until the polediameter increases to about twelve inches. Then, by suitable actuationdiscussed in more detail below, the second incising stage 294 is broughtinto operation, and both stages 292 and 294 continue to operate on thepole P until the butt of the pole P passes through the equipment. Aswill be apparent, by operating the assembly shown in FIG. 8 in thismanner, there will be about twice as many rows of incisions on the poleP at its twelve inch diameter point as there are at its six inchdiameter point, and there will also be twice as many incisions at itstwenty-two inch diameter point as at its eleven inch diameter point.Further, it will be apparent that, even though the diameter of pole Palmost quadruples the variation in spacing between adjacentlongitudinally extending rows of incisions will not vary more than by aratio of about 2: 1.

From the foregoing, various modes of bringing a subsequent incisingstage or stages into operation upon the diameter of pole P reaching acertain size will be apparent. Thus, such actuation of the secondincising stage can result from manually monitoring the size of thediameter of pole P, and can be controlled manually by the incising wheelassembly actuation means for the second incising stage, duplicating thecontrol elements 226230 shown at FIG. 2, for example. Also, the secondincising stage (again noting 294 in FIG. 8) can be designed to have apredetermined minimum opening between the incising wheels 298, such as atwelve inch minimum setting. With such minimum setting, the secondincising stage 294 can remain energized at all times, and will contactthe surface of pole P only when pole P diameters exceed suchpredetermined minimum setting. Yet another control alternative foroperation of a second subsequent incising stage can incorporate positiveand automatic pole diameter measuring components to initiate control ofthe second stage incising means actuation, such as by an automaticallyoperating control mechanism as presented by FIG. 10.

The control mechanism presented in FIG. 10 for automatic actuation of asubsequent incising stage utilizes means for detecting the relativemovement between equalizing bar 138 and compensating arm 140 of theselfcentering mechanism earlier discussed in detail in connection withFIGS. 1, 4 and 5. As will be recalled, equalizing bar 138 moves, asindicated at 300 in FIG. 10, responsively to the horizontal diametricdimension of pole P between feeler bars 114 and 116, while compensatingarm 140 moves responsively to deviations in symmetry of the surfaces ofpole P with respect to the center of opening 28 floating base member 20.In connection with the control movement of compensating arm 140, it isto be observed that the control effected thereby is of a continuingnature so its extent of movement in actual operation is not great. Thus,for practical purposes, the compensating arm 141) can be assumed to be afixed base for purposes of measuring relative movement of equalizing bar138 and developing a measure of the diametric dimension of pole Pentering the incising stage.

Specifically, as seen in FIG. 10, a typical automatic control mechanisminvolving pole size detection at a first incising stage and responsiveactuation of the incising assembly of a subsequent incising stage has aswitch plate 302, mounted as by welding on compensating arm 140, and inturn pivotally mounting a switch arm 304, which can pivot about pivotpin 306 and is normally urged against an adjustable stop 308 underaction of spring means 310, said switch arm 304 presenting a normallyopen contact switch 312 in a position to be contacted by the upper endof equalizing bar 138 when the latter is moved an amount related to thepole diameter at which actuation of the second incising stage isdesired. Said switch 312 is in the energization circuit of adelayedopen, delayed-closed time delay relay 314 which upon energizationin turn energizes solenoid 316 of solenoid actuated air control valve226, said valve 226' being interiorly identical and connected likecontrol valve 226, as shown in (FIG. 2) the incising means actuationsystem of the subsequent incising stage. Time delay 314 preferably is ofthe type having about a three second time delay upon energization andupon deenergization, the delayed energization being advantageous inorder to render ineffective any momentary or accidental closure ofswitch 312 such as might occur from a transient movement of compensatingarm 140 and in order to time the arrival of the incising wheels on thesubsequent incising stage at the surface of a pole P at substantiallythe same time that the detected pole diameter reaches the secondincising stage. Delayed de-energization of the second stage incisingmeans, as occasioned by a corresponding delay in de-energization of timedelay relay 314 is advantageous in order to insure that the incisingwheels of the subsequent stage remain energized substantially until thebutt end of the pole passes therethrough.

FIG. 11 presents a modified form of automatic control mechanism forcentering the floating base member of a given incising section, suchmodified form involving a hydraulic system, rather than a pneumaticsystem of the type earlier discussed in connection with FIG. 4. Thecontrol system presented by FIG. 11 is basically the same as the onepresented in FIG. 4 except that a closed, recycling system is providedfor the hydraulic transfer fluid. The hydraulic system presented in FIG.11 incorporates horizontal and vertical, four-way hydraulic controlvalves 320 and 322, respectively actuated through linkage 324 and 326 byhorizontal compensating arm 328 and vertical compensating arm 330, eachcontrolled and connected in an identical manner with equalizing bars138', in turn identical with and actuated like equalizing arm 138 shownin FIG. 4, as well as its vertical counterpart, also shown in FIG. 4.Four-way valves 320 and 322 are of a type, known per se, each connectinga respective inlet line 332 and 334, to alternate lines 336 and 338 tohorizontally acting control cylinder 104' on the one hand, or toalternate lines 340 and 342 to the vertically acting hydraulic cylinderon the other hand, the exhaust return lines 344 and 346 of said valves330 and 332 leading to hydraulic fluid reservoir 348. Pump 350 generatesan appropriate hydraulic fluid pressure, such as 200 lbs. p.s.i. forexample, and overpressure bypass valve 352 functions in a mannerconventional per se to maintain the desired supply line pressure.

To illustrate another type of means for centering the floating basemember, FIG. 12 presents a modified form of centering means wherein aplurality of four centering rolls arranged in two facing pairs areemployed, and wherein the actuation for lateral movement of the variousrolls is entirely mechanical, as distinguished from a servo typeactuation such as used in the first form of the invention illustratedand discussed.

Specifically, the modified form of self-centering means shown in FIG. 12involves the floating base member 20 having a front surface 22 and arear surface 24, said floating base member 20' being laterally movableof the pole P in a subframe identical with that earlier shown andincluding a top cross member 42 and a bottom member 44. As will also beunderstood, the rear surface 24' of floating base member 20' mountswhatever form of incising assembly is desired, the particular embodimentillustrated in FIG. 12 having an incising assembly identical with thatearlier shown and discussed, including vertical posts and 92, crossmember 94, rollers 96, brackets 212 and bracing ring 216, the remainderof the incising assembly being omitted from the view of FIG. 12, forsimplicity.

The specific self-centering means shown by FIG. 12, as viewed from thefront, includes respective upper, lower, right side and left side rolls360, 362, 364 and 366, each respectively journalled in a roll mountingframe 368, 370, 372 and 374, each in turn slidable radially of pole P inrespective guideways 376, 373, 380 and 382 standing 13 out from frontsurface 22' of floating base member 20.

Actuation of the various centering rolls 360-366 to retract or engagesame with an oncoming pole P is accomplished by an actuation mechanismcommon to all said rolls, comprising a double-acting pneumatic cylinder384 controlled manually by means of control valve 386 operable todeliver air from air supply line 338 to either line 393 (for rollengagement) or line 392 (for roll retraction). Rod 394 of cylinder 384is connected by crank arm 3% to shaft 333. The bottom roller frame 370is moved by linkage 40d and crank arm 462 directly on shaft 393. Righthand roller frame 372 is likewise moved by linkage 404 and crank 406,the latter being keyed to shaft 408, in turn driven by shaft 398 throughbevel gears 410. Roller frame 374 is driven from shaft 338 by linkage412 crank arm 414, shaft 416 and bevel gears 418 in a similar manner,and roller frame 368 is likewise interconnected with shaft 398 throughmeans of linkage 42f crank arm 422, shaft 424 and bevel gears 426 drivenfrom shaft 416. As will be apparent, the pivotal connections involvedare such that rolls 360-366 engage the pole P or retract in concert andmaintain relative positions substantially concentric with opening 28 infloating base member 20. In operation, the self-centering mechanismillustrated in FIG. 12 is kept normally retracted until the lead end ofan advancing pole P reaches the assembly. Just as the pole P moves intoposition between the retracted rolls 360-366, manually controlled valve336 is reversed, shifting all of rolls 360-366 into pressure engagementwith the pole P and causing floating base member 29' to move laterallyto center the opening 28 thereof about the pole P, whereupon theassociated incising means are energized and the incising treatmentproceeds until such time as the pole P has passed through the equipment,the operation being monitored by the op erator so that he can againreverse control valve 386 at such time as the lagging end of pole P isabout to leave rolls 366-366, the complete cycle of operation also ofcourse involving timely retraction of the incising means just as thelagging end of pole P passes therethrough. The equipment then remains inan at rest condition, with both the self-centering means and theincising means retracted, until such time as the next oncoming pole Parrives with its leading end between rolls 360-366.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate another form of incising means which is incertain respects comparable to and in other respects more advantageousthan the form of incising means earlier illustrated and discussed, inthat it is basically quite simple and functions to maintain the variousincising wheels in relatively equi-spaced and in substantial radialalignment with the center of a pole passing therethrough in anespecially advantageous manner when a pole is comparatively crookedaxially.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, this modified form of incising meansincludes a floating base member formed by spaced, front and rear plates43% and 432 providing a quite stiff base member and presenting acentrally disposed opening or channel 434 to receive the pole P. Aseries of incising wheels 436-, each identical per se with incisingwheels 2% of the previously discussed form of the invention, arecircumferentially disposed concentrically about opening 434 in thefloating base member.

Each incising whee'l 436 is journalled in a fork 438 in turn bolted to afork post 439 journalled at its forward end to slide block 449 (see FIG.14). Pork post 439 is provided with a groove or notch at its outer end,as indicated at 441 (FIG. 14), with the line of recess thereof lying inthe plane of rotation of incising Wheel 436 and yielda bly retained byspring loaded pin 442, conically shaped at its fork post engaging end443. The specific construction of the fork post mounting, is such thatthe incising wheel can move slightly about a pivot axis parallel to thedirection of movement of slide block 446 in guide rails 445, i.e. aboutthe journal bearing post 444 at the end of slide block 444 and isself-restoring to a position of exact alignment of the plane of rotationof the wheel 436' with the axial center of a pole P being treated,constituting a quite advantageous operational feature of this form ofthe invention because such yieldable mounting of the incising wheel 436permits the wheel assembly to caster a slight degree about the bearingpost 444 in the event a pole P is comparatively crooked axially or quitenon-symmetrical, or in the event the pole P should be off-centered for atime with respect to the base member opening 434, for whatever reason.Said bearing post 444 relieves any possibility of binding of a wheel 436yet nevertheless provides a fixed axis for such limited movement, sothat the point of engagement of the wheel 436 with the facing surface ofthe pole P remains substantially in radial alignment with the polecenter even though the pole surface contour requires a degree ofcastering to maintain incision symmetry.

Slide block 440 has a T-shaped baseform 444 slidably movable betweenguide rails 445 welded to said plate 432. In each instance, movement ofthe mounting block 446 and wheel 436 radially of opening 434 is by meansof double-acting cylinder 446 and its cylinder rod 448, said cylinderrod 443 having its outer end attached to a braced upright 443 or wheelmounting block 44%, and said cylinder 446 being bolted to a commonbracing ring 450 encircling the various cylinders 446 and held in fixedposition rearwardly of plate 432 by a series of spaced brackets 452(FIG. 14), the arrangement of bracing ring 450 and brackets 452 beingcomparable to the arrangement of ring 216 and brackets 212 in the formof incising means earlier discussed. Engaging air to the variouscylinders 446 is delivered through manifold ring 454 and the respectiveparallel connected air lines 456, while retracting air is deliveredthrough manifold ring 458 and the associated air lines 466, saidmanifold rings 454 and 458 being mounted on a series ofcircumferentia-lly disposed mounting brackets 462 (FIG. 14) extendingrearwardly from said plate 432. Air control to simultaneously transferthe incising wheels 436 to a pole engaging or retracted position, asdesired, and as shown by arrow 464, is accomplished by a manuallyoperated four-way air control valve (not shown), which can be identicalin construction and manner of connection with control valve 226 of theform of incising means first presented.

It is also an advantage of the modified form of incising means shown inFIGS. 13 and 14 that the pressure exerted on the facing surface of thepole P by any given incising wheel 436 is a direct function of thepressure generated in its cylinder 446 without the leverage reductionwhich was the case with the pivoted arm wheel mounting means employed inthe first form of the invention discussed. Thus, and assuming controlair is supplied at lbs. psi, and that each cylinder 446 has an effectivepiston area of four square inches, the pressure exerted by each incisingWheel 436 is about 400 lbs., as compared with the about 200 lbs.pressure generated by the pivoted arm incising wheel mountings shown inFIGS. 1-3.

FIGS. 15 and 16 serve to illustrate yet another form of self-centeringmeans mounted on the front or infeed end of a floating base member. Inthis form of self-centering means, such is again mounted on the subframeassembly comprising top cross member 42 and bottom member 44, uprights9t} and 92 and rollers 96, the form of the floating base member beingthat of spaced front and rear plates 43% and 4-32 and a central openingor channel 434 such as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The particularcentering assembly shown at FIGS. 15 and 16 is constituted by an upperpair of rolls 470 relatively disposed with their axes of rotation in theform of a shallow, inverted V, and a pair of lower rolls 472, likewisehaving their axes of rotation. disposed in the form of a shallow,upright V. Each of the pairs of rolls 470' and 472 is journalled in arespective mounting block 474 and 476, preferably with the centerjournal posts being in a slightly forward position (see FIG. 16) so thatoperationally the pairs of rolls 470 and 472 tend to feed a pole Ptoward each other and toward the center of the roll assembly. Eachmounting block 474 and 476 is constructionally identical with the other,with upper mounting block 474 inverted, both said mounting blocks 474and 476 being slidable on trackways presented by side channels 478 and480, the laterally disposed ends of said mounting blocks 474 and 476facing said chan- :nels 478 and 480 having forwardly and rearwardlydisposed lips spanning said channels 478 and 480.

Each of the upper and lower sets of rolls and mounting blocks is movedvertically by a double-acting air cylinder, the upper air cylinder beingindicated at 482 and the lower air cylinder being indicated at 484, thesaid air cylinders being connected in parallel to engaging air line 486and retracting air line 488 so that actuation of said cylinders 482 and484 to cause engagement of rolls 470 and 472 with a pole P, orretraction of said rolls, as the case may be, is controllable by asingle manually operated air control valve such as shown at 386 at FIG.12. As evident, by this arrangement the pairs of rolls 470 and 472 willeither both engage or both retract at the same time. In addition, meansare provided in the arrangement illustrated at FIGS. 15 and 16 topositively maintain the relative position of rolls 470 and rolls 472substantially centered about the center of opening 434 of the floatingbase member. Such centering means include an upper pair of chains 490and 492 passing over respective sprockets 494 and 496 on shaft 498, inturn mounted in bearings 500 on plate 430, one end of chain 490 beingconnected by bolt block 502 to lower roll mounting block 476 and theother end of chain 490 being connected to bolt block 504 on upper rollmounting block 474. Similarly, chain 492 connects to bolt block 586 onroll mounting block 476, and its other end connects to bolt block 508 onroll mounting block 474. Two bottom chains 510 and 512 similarly passover sprockets 514 and 516 and are respectively connected to bolt blocks518, 520, 522 and 524 (FIG. 16). Interconnecting chains 490, 492, 510,and 512 function to interlink the upper and lower centering rollassemblies, insuring that movement of one roll assembly is accompaniedby substantially equal movement of the other .roll assembly, maintainingthe facing rolls centered with respect to the base member opening 434,irrespective of the separation between rolls 470 and 472. Obviously,such interlinkage permits use of a single actuating cylinder 482 or 484,rather than two such cylinders, if desired.

As will be apparent from the foregoing consideration of the mechanismshown at FIGS. 15 and 16, as the lead end of a pole P is supportablyconveyed between the sets of rollers 470 and 472, actuation of cylinders482 and 484 causes said rollers 470 and 472 to close around said pole P.With this action, the relatively heavy weight of pole P results intranslation of the reactive force generated by cylinders 482 and 484into movement of the counterweighted floating base member, to center thesame around pole P.

From the foregoing, various further modifications and arrangements ofequipments and equipment components will be apparent to those skilled inthe art. Thus, by way of further typical and non-limitive example, it isevident that any one of the various types of self-centering meansdisclosed can be utilized in conjunction with any one of the varioustypes of the incising means disclosed, that any incising stageregardless of its component detail can be employed either singly or inplural stages of two or more to accomplish any incising pattern ordegree of uniformity desired, and that actuation of the self-centeringassembly and/or the incising means assembly of any one or more stagescan be manually or automatically controlled, as desired. In view of thevarious typical forms and types of equipment arrangements and modes ofoperation disclosed, as well as the many various modifications andvariations thereof within the skill of the art to which applicantsinvention is addressed, it is to be expressly understood that suchvarious further modifications and arrangements of equipments and/orequipment components and/or modes of operation are within the scope ofthe present invention, as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An incising machine adapted to incising the curved, peripheralsurface of a wood product varying substantially in diameter from end toend, comprising; in combination with means for axially andnon-rotatively conveying the wood product at a predetermined level, astationary base frame, laterally floating means on said base framehaving an opening through which the wood product passes, individuallyacting wood product incising means on said floating means, having aseries of freely rotatable, individually casterable, and individuallyradially movable incising elements standing rearwardly of said floatingmeans and arranged circumferentially about said wood product, and fluidactuated means associated with and acting individually and radially oneach of said incising elements, whereby substantially all of the curved,peripheral surface of said wood product is incised to a substantiallyuniform depth during a single pass of the wood product through saidfloating means.

2. An incising machine according to claim 1, further comprising floatingmeans centering mechanism engaging the wood product surfaces passingthrough said floating means and causing responsive movement of saidfloating means laterally of said wood product.

3. An incising machine according to claim 2, wherein said mechanism isof the fluid actuated, servo type.

4. An incising machine according to claim 3, wherein said mechanismcomprises a plurality of pivotally mounted feeler bars disposed aboutthe axial line of travel of the wood product, control linkage andvalving responsive to non-symmetrical relative movement between saidfeeler bars, and fluid actuated means controlled by said valving andmoving said floating means laterally of the axis of said wood product tocompensate for such non-symmetrical relative movement of said feelerbars.

5. An incising machine according to claim 2, wherein said mechanism isof the mechanically actuated type.

6. An incising machine according to claim 5, wherein said mechanismcomprises an opposed pair of laterally movable roll means, and movementinterlinking means acting between said pair of roll means to maintainthe latter substantially radially equi-spaced from the axial center ofthe opening in said floating means.

7. An incising machine according to claim 6, wherein said mechanismcomprises two opposed pairs of rollers, one pair being movablesubstantially vertically and the other pair being movable substantiallyhorizontally.

8. An incising machine according to claim 6, wherein said mechanismcomprises an opposed pair of interlinked, substantially verticallymovable roll means, the upper roll means having rolls disposed in theform of an inverted V and the lower roll means having rolls disposed inthe form of an upright V.

9. An incising machine according to claim 2, wherein said mechanismcomprises a plurality of centering rolls disposed about said woodproduct and actuated in concert to engage said wood product and causecentering of said floating means therearound.

10. Apparatus for incising a wood product having curved peripheralsurfaces and a varying cross-sectional dimension comprising, incombination with means nonrotatively conveying said wood product in thedirection of its longitudinal axis, a first incising stage comprising aseries of casterable incising means arranged circumferentially about thepath of travel of said wood product, and a second incising stagecomprising a second series of casterable incising means arrangedcircumferentially about another point in the path of travel of said woodproduct and simultaneously engageable therewith during a single pass ofthe wood product through the apparatus, each such incising stage furthercomprising mounting means rearwardly offsetting the said incising meanswith respect to a floating base member movable laterally of thedirection of travel of said wood product and maintaining the said seriesof incising means substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis ofthe wood product portion engaged by the series of incising means mountedthereon.

11. In an incising machine for incising the curved, peripheral surfaceof a natural wood product varying substantially in diameter from end toend, comprising; in combination with means for non-rotatively andaxially conveying the wood product, a centrally open, floatably mountedbase member, a fixed ring mounted on said base member, a series ofindividually casterable incising wheels standing rearwardly of andarranged circumferentially around said base member, and a series ofdoubleacting, fluid actuated cylinder assemblies disposed radially ofsaid opening, the outer end of each such cylinder assembly beinganchored to said fixed ring, and the inwardly directed cylinder rod ofeach such cylinder assembly being connected with and radially moving anassociated incising wheel, and control means selectively connecting all.

said cylinders in parallel to a source of pressurized fluid in a mannercausing simultaneous extension or retraction of each said incising wheelwith respect to the axis of said opening and relatively equal pressureon each said incising wheel when such Wheels are in engagement with thewood product.

12. In an incising machine adapted to incise substantially all of thecurved, peripheral surface of a Wood prod uct of varying diameter fednon-rotatively therethrough; the improvement comprising: a stationarybase frame, a laterally floating sub-frame on said base frame having anopening through which the WOOd product passes, and individually actingwood product incising means on said floating subframe arrangedcircumferentially of the opening thereof, each such incising meansincluding an incisor Wheel and means mounting said incisor Wheel on saidfloating subframe so as to be positioned substantially rearwardlythereof and be reciprocably, rotatably and pivotally movable withrespect to said subframe, such reciprocable movement being in adirection substantially lateral of the longitudinal axis of the woodproduct and enabling the incisor wheel to be selectively engaged withand retracted from the surface of the wood product, such rotatablemovement of each incisor wheel being about an axis extendingsubstantially parallel to a tangent at the surface of the wood product,and such pivotal movement of each incisor wheel occurring about an axissubstantially radial of said wood product and forward of the point ofcontact of the incisor wheel with the Wood product to enable the wheelassembly to caster with respect to said floating subframe and said woodproduct to accommodate off-center or laterally non-symmetrical woodproduct configurations Without the incisor Wheel binding.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12, wherein each such incisorwheel mounting means comprises guide means arranged radially of theopening of said floating subframe, a slide block radially movable insaid guide means, trunnion means on said slide block, and incisor wheeljournalling means extending rearwardly of and pivotally movable on saidtrunnion means.

14. The combination set forth in claim 13, wherein each such incisorwheel mounting means further comprises fluid pressure actuated meansinterconnected between said subframe and said slide block for engagingand retracting the incisor wheel laterally with respect to the surfaceof a wood product passing through the subframe opening.

15. The combination set forth in claim 14, further comprising fluidsupply means including manifold means of annular configuration mountedon said subframe, and parallel connection means from said manifold meansto all of said fluid pressure actuated means delivering fluid to all ofthe latter at the same pressure.

16. In an incising machine adapted to incise substantially all of thecurved, peripheral surface of a wood product of varying diameter fednon-rotatively therethrough; the improvement comprising: a frame havingan opening through which the wood product passes, and individuallyacting wood product incising means on said frame arrangedoircumferentially of the opening thereof, each such incising meansincluding an incisor wheel and means mounting said incisor wheel on saidframe so as to be positioned substantially rearwardly thereof and bereciprocably, rotatably and pivotally movable with respect to saidframe, such reciprocable movement being in a direction substantiallylateral of the longitudinal axis of the wood product and enabling theincisor wheel to be selectively engaged with and retracted from thesurface of the wood product, such rotatable movement of each incisorwheel being about an axis extending substantially parallel to a tangentat the surface of the wood product, and such pivotal movement of eachincisor wheel occurring about an axis substantially radial of said woodproduct and forward of the point of contact of the incisor wheel withthe wood product to enable the wheel assembly to caster with respect tosaid floating subframe and said wood product to accommodate off-centeror laterally non-symmetrical wood product configurations without theincisor wheel binding.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,622,538. Nelson Mar. 29, 19-27 1,646,188 Colman Oct. 18, 19271,665,764 York Apr. 10, 1928 1,943,649 White Jan. 16, 1934 2,473,461White June 14, 1949 2,477,922 Emery Aug. 2, 1949 2,563,758 Tinling Aug.7, 1951 2,591,751 Whitlock Apr. 8, 1952 2,623,558 Andersson Dec. 30,1952 2,675,255 Bloedel Apr. 13, 1954 2,684,670 Prentice June 22, 19542,691,395 Yeadon et a1. Oct. 12, 1954 2,794,466 Leffler June 4, 19572,843,168 Lunn July 15, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 728,158 France Apr. 11,1932 1,091,890 France Nov. 3, 1954 145,439 Sweden May 25, 1954

1. AN INCISING MACHINE ADAPTED TO INCISING THE CURVED, PERIPHERALSURFACE OF A WOOD PRODUCT VARYING SUBSTANTIALLY IN DIAMETER FROM END TOEND, COMPRISING; IN COMBINATION WITH MEANS FOR AXIALLY ANDNON-ROTATIVELY CONVEYING THE WOOD PRODUCT AT A PREDETERMINED LEVEL, ASTATIONARY BASE FRAME, LATERALLY FLOATING MEANS ON SAID BASE FRAMEHAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH THE WOOD PRODUCT PASSES, INDIVIDUALLYACTING WOOD PRODUCT INCISING MEANS ON SAID FLOATING MEANS, HAVING ASERIES OF FREELY ROTABLE, INDIVIDUALLY CASTERABLE, AND INDIVIDUALLYRADIALLY MOVABLE INCISING ELEMENTS STANDING REARWARDLY OF SAID FLOATINGMEANS AND ARRANGED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT SAID WOOD PRODUCT, AND FLUIDACTUATED MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH